CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Sheriff Charles Vondra has reported in a press release that on Thursday, July 21, 2023, the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office conducted a human sex trafficking sting with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol. 27-year-old Juan Gomez Hernandez was arrested in Osceola county and was charged with child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime and attempted criminal sexual conduct third degree. He is currently in the Charlevoix County Jail.

MORE NEWS: Nessel Joins Lawsuit Fighting Trump’s Order on Birthright Citizenship

Through investigative steps, the Sheriff said that Deputies and Detectives discovered that Juan Gomez Hernandez was involved in the attempted sex trafficking of an underage girl. Due to law enforcement sensitivity and the ongoing investigation, her name and age cannot be revealed but it was learned that the underage girl is not from Mexico.

Michigan News Source spoke with Lt. William B. Church II with the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office and learned that Hernandez was in the country illegally, having overstayed his visa. Church said that Hernandez did not live or work in Charlevoix county but that is where the alleged sex trafficking activity took place.

Lt. Church said, “This is the second operation that we’ve done of this type. The first one was with Sheriff Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and his G.H.O.S.T. team. That was our first operation. They taught us how to do these types of operations and we then went ahead and conducted one of our own.”

Sheriff Vondra also commended Sheriff Chris Swanson for his leadership and support in helping other entities work these types of crimes. Sheriff Vondra said, “His guidance and G.H.O.S.T. certified program have been instrumental in helping our office to continue to protect our citizens from these types of crimes more effectively.”

G.H.O.S.T. stands for “Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team.” They report that human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world and is second only to illegal drug trade. On their website, is says, “Human trafficking earns global profits of roughly $150 billion a year for traffickers, $99 billion of which comes from commercial sexual exploitation. Globally, an estimated 71% of enslaved people are women and girls, while men and boys account for 29%.”

Sheriff Vondra emphasizes in his press release that “human trafficking and human sex trafficking have no boundaries and effects everyone.”

MORE NEWS: POTUS, Pardons, EOs, and the People: What’s Legal?

That includes the small towns in northern lower Michigan and the upper peninsula as well.

According to the Human Trafficking Hotline, more than 5,000 human trafficking survivors have been identified across the state of Michigan since 2007.

If you believe someone is being trafficked or have information regarding these crimes, please call 911, the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office at 231-547-4461, or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 877-605-3424.